Rosa Mexicano is proving to be a staple Mexican restaurant group in Australia with the opening of its new venue in the CBD bringing delicious Mexican food to the heart of Melbourne. Rosa Mexicano offers classic and experimental Mexican dishes in an authentic and engaging environment. Unlike their other locations and competitors within Melbourne, Rosa Mexicano’s convenient Degraves St location also offers an exclusive breakfast menu that puts a Mexican spin on the classics.
Rosa Mexicano has undoubtedly created a contemporary CBD venue that is colourful and full of life, perfectly complementing the vibrancy of Melbourne’s atmosphere outside its four walls. The venue’s compact but clever interior invites energy that fits, with Latino music and bold fluorescent signage that captures the joy and celebration of communal dining. Paying homage to its name, ‘Rosa Mexicano’ meaning ‘Mexican Pink’, the chain showcases the femininity of Mexican culture with electric magenta decor that is symbolic of Mexico’s national colour and pays homage to the trailblazing artist Frida Kahlo, whose portraits featured across their walls. Whether visitors are passing by for a quick feed during their workday or are looking for a venue with an eccentric vibe and extensive menu to match, Rosa Mexicano ensures an energetic atmosphere is conveniently available to Melburnians each day of the week.
What makes Rosa Mexicano stand out from alternative competitors is their ability to create fusion dishes by presenting Spanish and Mexican menu items that are influenced by Western, Italian and Asian flavours and styles of cuisine. As a result, guests choose from quintessential Mexican dishes that are elevated with new flavour combinations and are picture-perfect upon presentation. Offering a considerable selection of burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and tacos, Rosa’s CBD location additionally includes an extensive breakfast menu that recreates classic breakfast items with a Mexican spin.
Rosa’s Western spin on traditional Mexican dishes includes the Jamon Y Queso Quesadilla, which is their take on a classic ham and cheese, as well as the Siracha Maple Chicken Burger that presents a hybrid of Northern and Southern American cuisine, featuring buttermilk fried chicken in their unique Siracha Maple Sauce. Utilising head chef Elias Dib’s previous experience in Asian and Italian cuisine, Rosa Mexicano’s menu includes paellas and burritos that are influenced by other cultures’ favourite ingredients, which is a rare element of their offering that allows them to cater to more palates. Their highly rated Seafood Curry Paella, incorporating the freshest Peninsula mussels and king prawns in combination with Spanish herbs and spices along with their Chicken, Pineapple and Coconut Curry Burrito additionally showcases the pairing of sweetness and spice commonly found in Indian dishes. Innovation continues into their dessert menu, featuring the Cinnamon Nachos which are drizzled in house-made chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and moreish ice cream.
Accompanying their extensive food menu is an abundance of tantalising tequilas, margaritas, cocktails, mocktails and sangrias. Each signature drink is ripe with colour, utilising flavours such as Rum, Rosewater, Pineapple and Coconut Cream to create their Rosa Caloda. The Cotton Candy Martini combines Vodka, cranberry and lime juice decorated with vibrant cotton candy and the Duce is filled with traditional Spanish liquors including Reposado, Licor 43, agave, lime, cucumber and jalapenos for spicier sipping. Likewise, they offer over nine flavours of margaritas, frozen or on the rocks and rimmed with Himalayan Black Salt, another unique feature of the Rosa Mexicano offering that fascinates each new visitor. Being that this location is so accessible to public transport being in the heart of the CBD, the multifunctional venue and menu alone make the Degraves Street restaurant a convenient destination for post-work Happy Hour or a weekend cocktail night.
Working together at notable Mexican restaurant Amigos quickly cemented cofounders Elias Dib and Utkash Vartak’s (often referred to as UV) love for Mexicano cuisine which drove to launching Rosa Mexicano in 2018 by combining Dib’s experience in Mediterranean, French and Italian cuisine with Vartak’s background in finance and hospitality. “Rosa Mexicano has been created with a fresh modern take based on previous venues with a wealth of experience. The thing that stands out for the Rosa Mexicano group is the fusion of cooking obtained from travels to Mexico and other parts of the world”, says Dib.
Their CBD store is the fifth Rosa Mexicano opening, with their other stores situated in South Melbourne, Burwood, Williamstown and Watergardens. Further highlighting the success and popularity of the chain, Rosa Mexicano is on the path to opening three more stores by the end of 2022. What began as a family-owned business only four years ago has now expanded to a franchise with an astounding nine locations and will soon include interstate venues in South Australia and Queensland. As more stores make their debut, it’s clear that Rosa Mexicano’s fusion menu and memorable atmosphere are especially unique and in demand nationwide, even amongst long-serving competitors.
To experience their Mexican fusion cuisine, including their exclusive breakfast menu, visit Rosa Mexicano’s central CBD location at 37 Degraves Street; open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, and 11:30 am til late on weekends.
